Broadband hobbled by high prices – E-envoy's office

And lack of choice

Common Topics

TMA The mass take-up of broadband is being hampered by high prices, according to Chris Parker of the Government's e-envoy office.

Addressing delegates on day two of TMA 2001 in Brighton Mr Parker also recognised that there was a lack of sufficient broadband product choice and not enough content.

However, he said that when it came to the adoption of broadband, the Government recognised that "price is an issue at the top of its list".

While price remains a key factor in the take-up of broadband – the recognition of which will be popular especially among home users and small businesses – he also admitted that both industry and Government could do more to stimulate demand.

Said Mr Parker: "Industry and Government have failed to communicate a compelling argument as to why we need broadband."

And on the thorny issue of the lack of broadband services in rural areas, he said that Government had a "significant role" in addressing this problem as both a "user and purchaser of broadband services".

For despite BT's boast that some 60 per cent of the nation are now broadband enabled, it still means that a large minority of people are excluded from hooking up to hi-speed Internet services.

The Government is due to publish its strategy into broadband Britain next month. Should make very interesting reading. ®